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The Vampire Diaries Review: Killer Consequences

Elena kicked off this episode of The Vampire Diaries by stabbing Jeremy in the neck. She ended it by stabbing Stefan in the heart.

In between, there were hallucinations, unexpected returns, heartfelt pleas, professor-based revelations, a hilarious reference to Van Helsing and one seriously bloody step taken by the fresh-faced new hunter in town.

What a tremendous job this hour did in tying together all characters and storylines.

Caroline, Tyler and Hayley had felt as if they were on the outside looking in on events in Mystic Falls, but here their de-siring plans came into direct (read: deadly) contact with Elena's crazy visions. We learned more about April's father... and his connection to Professor Shane... while Bonnie remains under his dangerous wing... and, of course, Jeremy is tied to both Bonnie (via their feelings) and Elena, Tyler, Damon and company (via his axe).

Everyone has a role to play, everyone is playing it well and nary a second of the hour feels wasted. That's impressive stuff.

However, I should really begin at the end, shouldn't I? The splitting of Stelena is sure to wreak havoc among TVD fans, but let's try to move past the 'shipper wars and give props for how this break-up was handled.

Unlike some issues I took with the love triangle on The Vampire Diaries Season 3, Elena was open and honest in her closing conversation with Stefan. She wasn't oscillating. She wasn't whining. She was direct and logical, based on what we've seen over the past few weeks: this really is a darker Elena and she really does have a lot more in common with Damon.

We've been told for ages that being a vampire "magnifies" one's feelings. And we've watched her bond with Damon grow. I completely bought Elena's reasoning and I appreciate that Julie Plec and company didn't drag this will-she-or-won't-she out any longer. She WILL, Delena lovers. Let the anticipation begin...

As for the hallucinations, these were strange and powerful images. They were also revealing. A bloody Connor? A taunting Katherine? A duplicitous mother? The Vampire Diaries has gone all-in with Elena's transition, taking the time to show it from every angle. She's sorry she killed Connor... but she also admits it felt great to taste his blood.

She doesn't ever want to be Katherine... but she's more like her than ever before. She worries that she's responsible for her parents' death... and now she's also to blame for Jeremy's necessary transformation.

It's safe to say Elena is going through A LOT these days - and Nina Dobrev is positively killing (pun, intended!) each and every scene/emotion.

Oh, right, about that Jeremy fella: what a fascinating storyline! So now he's a Hunter. What does that mean, exactly? Will he develop an urge to kill vampires? Will he be pushed to do so in order to complete his map and lead everyone toward a cure?

And how does Professor Shane enter into all of this? He clearly played some role in the Pastor blowing up the Council. He eerily warned Bonnie that she best turn to him when the map is complete. But does that mean he's truly a bad guy?

He may know something we don't (correction, this is The Vampire Diaries: he definitely knows something we don't...) and his aims may very well be noble. My guess is that he sincerely wants to do right by the residents of Mystic Falls. Unfortunately, he likely believes the supernaturals that inhabit this town do not feel the same way.

My only complaint about the episode? The Caroline/Tyler tension. It just seems silly and contrived. I want to see these two teaming up to help other Hybrids and playing Klaus for their own purposes, not fighting one second, pretending to fight the next, and then fighting for real once again.

But Jeremy awakened and Connor's legacy passed on? AWESOME. Elena and Stefan having an honest conversation about the state of their relationship? PERFECT. Elena next turning to Damon? INTRIGUING. More references to Alaric? TEAR-INDUCING.

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amxo•November 22, 2012 05:03

i REALLY dont want to see stefan upset for the rest of the seasons, come on. His sadness should only last for 2 episodes at the most, and id really like to see how he handles this. I want him to be strong and care freee. I want him to go crazy and meet new girls. And then i want him to be with someone dark. Wouldnt it be fun to see Caroline and STefan get drunk after their break ups ?! hahahahha. AND then at the end of the series i want elena and him to end up together :D THE END.

lola•November 21, 2012 15:31

to stelena fans, stefan and elena would have never lasted. there is no drama or passion between them. for a relationship to work, you need passion. a healthy relationship has fights and disputes and stefan and elena barely ever fight. they are too good for each other. clearly, i am a delena fan. as for klaus and caroline, they are so cute together. something clearly is going on between hayley and tyler and caroline deserves better. i actually like hayley and i think she would be good with tyler. klaus is such a gentleman and caroline would be lucky to be with him. i cant wait for the next episode when caroline and klaus go on a date:)

Kikuchan•November 21, 2012 09:12

I wanted to add. It should be Stelena forever. I mean Stephen gave himself over to klaus to save Damon! Stephen has saved and protected elena from the start. So while Stephen saves Damon, Damon makes his move on Elena? Damon is a punk! Stephen saves them both and they back stab him!!!! Delena is just WRONG and you know it! You don't do that to family! , it started wrong, and it will end wrong! So if they don't have Stephen and Elena back together then allow Stephen to be happy with someone else! He deserves the best. And whe. Stephen ends up with a beautiful girl who loves him back, Elena will be jeolous and Damon will loose his brother!!!!!!!

Kikuchan•November 21, 2012 09:03

I have been reading every delena comment and I can't take it anymore. Everyone saying Damon and Elena finally or Damon deserves to be happy! Are you serious! From the very beginning when Stephen and Elena met Damon made it his mission to torture Stephen. He intentionally picked on his brother and then falls in love with Elena? Come on, Damon of course should be happy but why Elena? Stephen couldn't even be happy and free of Damon pushing his way with Elena. Stephen and Elena are first loves. Damon pushed and pushed and constantly reminded Elena that he loves her and would do anything for her. In the meantime, Stephen did everything for Elena! Damon was always trying to one up his brother. Elena did not love Damon and his ways up until the end of season 3. She was attracted to Damon and liked the attention but that was not true love. Stephen loves her unconditionally allowing her to. Ate her own choices. Damon contolling, killed her brother, Lexi, Zachary, etc. Elena did not love this. The worst of it all, Stephen gave himself to klaus to save Damon. So while he is the ripperWr, Damon pushes his way again. Elena was forced into damons arms only because sttephen pushed elena away to protect her. Damin is a ounk. His brother saves his life and all he could think of was getting elena to love him. I am pissed at elena right now for being dumb. Steohen deserves to be happy and not backstabbed by the two people that he saved! Stelena forever cause the damon brother stealing girlfriend issue is just WRONG!

Kikuchan•November 21, 2012 08:58

I have been reading every delena comment and I can't take it anymore. Everyone saying Damon and Elena finally or Damon deserves to be happy! Are you serious! From the very beginning when Stephen and Elena met Damon made it his mission to torture Stephen. He intentionally picked on his brother and then falls in love with Elena? Come on, Damon of course should be happy but why Elena? Stephen couldn't even be happy and free of Damon pushing his way with Elena. Stephen and Elena are first loves. Damon pushed and pushed and constantly reminded Elena that he loves her and would do anything for her. In the meantime, Stephen did everything for Elena! Damon was always trying to one up his brother. Elena did not love Damon and his ways up until the end of season 3. She was attracted to Damon and liked the attention but that was not true love. Stephen loves her unconditionally allowing her to. Ate her own choices. Damon contolling, killed her brother, Lexi, Zachary, etc. Elena did not love this. The worst of it all, Stephen gave himself to klaus to save Damon. So while he is the ripperWr, Damon pushes his way again.

Kins1984•November 19, 2012 22:20

Well Its time to face the Delena moment. Its inevitable. And I think that it is going to be one of the central storylines to this 4th season, which in my opinion, is one of the greatest till now. Im no delena fan but, stelena was kind of stale and nothing special was happening. I just hope that by that Stefan will be free and turn to Dark again, but still not fall over the edge. I want him to fight snap kill. He can be so much better than what he's doing now. For the Professor Shane guy, I think that well, to be honest he will be responsible for the greater Evil that Pastor Young prophecied on the letter... May be having something to do with that SILAS that he was giving a lecture. I so much want that Klaus stop turning around Blondie Vamp. Its not going anywhere, and I dont like Hayley (Faye), she definitely want Tyler.

Leila•November 19, 2012 20:16

Am i the only one who`s not happy about the DELENA developments of the 4th season. I really miss human Elena. And i don`t trust the stuff with vampy Elena and Damon. I really think at the end he will still the one who gets hurt in the process of Julie Plec bringing Stelena together again. I don`t want Elena to have magnified feelings for Damon just because she`s a vampire right now. I miss their connection when she was human. It was strong and pure.

Sid•November 19, 2012 19:41

I didn't get to add that even though I am a Stelena fan, I really hope now Elena has broken up with Stephen she wont try to amke up with him. Her indecisiveness is ruining the series.

Sid•November 19, 2012 19:10

When Elana died last season I realized that was the writers way of placating Stelaena fans for what they were planning to do. They wanted to justify her cuckolding Stephan without her coming off as a duplicitous skank; because, as much as she claimed she chose Stephen when still human, she would have hurt him, as its obvious she wants Damon. Honestly if the triangle nonsense continued much longer, I would have stopped watching because Elena was just being duplicitous. On one hand she is a goody that wants to save the world on the other hand shes in a love triangle, with brothers at that. Contradictory much? Hypocrite. On another note though, I'm liking this season far more than season 3. Last season was too much about the love triangle plus the story about the originals fell flat. This season the writers have gone back to the formula that made TVD good. They've returned to the folklore and mythology surrounding Mystic Falls and the vampires. I really hope now Elena has broken up with Stephen they'll stop forcing a love triangle down our throats and just get on with original storytelling. This means also not keeping Stephen in stupid "chasing after Elena" story lines. Paul Wesley is too fine an actor for cliched tripe.

Carolyn•November 19, 2012 10:23

B, I'm sorry you are upset by this, but you are being a bit delusional. You're upset because you've been ignoring the obvious [to everyone else] connection that has developed between Elena and Damon, and I don't just mean in S3... she saved him about 3 times in the first season alone... because something drove her to do so. She's been in love with Damon a long time, she could jut ignore it because he kept sabotaging it in favour of Stefan again and again. And you're missing the real life situation of falling for one person and then falling for a second without meaning to. If you fall in love with the second, you were never truly in love with the first. Stefan 'saved' her, and that is why she fell for him, and that is why she chose him at the end of S3... because he was with her friends, and Damon wasn't. Stefan was the SAFE choice, but not the right one. The breakup scene was inevitable, perfectly written, acted and has just the right amount of melancholy, but for me, it was just a relief. For both of them. Elena has been lying about her feelings for Damon for about a year now [in their timeline], and Stefan knows it. So now... let's get on with the rest of the story telling.